Final week to have a say on the Local Plan

PEOPLE have until the end of this week to take part in a public consultation to help shape the direction of planning and development in Leicester over the coming decades.

Leicester City Council’s public consultation to get people’s views on its latest Local Plan, which will guide the city’s planning policies and land use up to 2031, runs until Sunday, December 17.

The original deadline for the consultation was extended after people requested more time to put forward their views.

The consultation is the very first stage of the process which is expected to last about 18 months. The views given will be used to form the first draft Local Plan, which will then go out for further public consultation.

Thousands of people have so far viewed the information on the city council’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, and meetings have been held with a range of local sports, businesses and community groups.

Exhibitions have taken place at Highcross Leicester, and people have contacted the council via its Citizen Space website, letters and formal responses to the online consultation.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We’ve had a lot of ideas put forward as part of this initial consultation, and it is very encouraging to see people taking an interest in their city.

“Drawing up the Local Plan is a long, detailed process, but the views people have expressed are very valuable in taking us forward to the next part of it.”

The city council has to draw up Local Plans every few years, to set out how it will adapt to ongoing changes such as population growth, the need to provide new jobs, houses and schools, and other infrastructure needed to support a thriving, growing city.

The greater Leicester area is one of the fasting growing in the country, with a population of about 650,000, of which 350,000 live within the city council area.

People can take part online on the Citizen Space website, at consultations.leicester.gov.uk

Copies of the reference materials and consultation questionnaire are available to view at city council-run libraries, the Town Hall and customer service centre in Granby Street.